Sinn Féin will not vote against free access to abortion up to 12 weeks, its spokeswoman on health has suggested.

Louise O’Reilly said her party would record its dissent if the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment recommends legalising terminations for all women. The committee is holding its final meeting on Wednesday when it will hold a vote on what kind of abortion law would follow the repeal of the state’s constitutional ban on abortion in next year’s referendum.

Simon Harris: It would be 'desirable' to use Oireachtas abortion committee's findings for referendum

Monday, December 11, 2017
By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Health Minister Simon Harris has backed calls for the Oireachtas abortion committee's findings to be used as the template for next year's eighth amendment referendum despite claims substantial changes could be made before a vote.

Mr Harris said such a move would be "desirable" and "obviously makes sense", despite noting this is "just my gut answer" and that he will need to wait until the exact recommendations are agreed over the coming days.

The Oireachtas committee on the eighth amendment is likely to vote in favour of abortion without restriction in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when it agrees its final report on Wednesday.

Committee sources say there appears to be a majority in favour of accepting the recommendation of the citizens’ assembly that termination of pregnancy, without restriction, should be lawful up to 12 weeks’ gestation.

Three FF committee members want to make abortion available up to 12 weeks without restriction
Submission recommends GP-led service up to 12 weeks for terminations without reason

Dec 9, 2017
Sarah Bardon

Three Fianna Fáil members of the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment have called for it to support making abortion available up to 12 weeks without restriction.

In a joint submission to the committee, Senator Ned O’Sullivan and TDs Billy Kelleher and Lisa Chambers outline their belief that terminations should be accessible when the life and the health of a mother is at risk. There should be no distinction between the mental or physical health of the mother, they add.

Large majority favours changing Constitution on abortion
Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI Poll finds support for repeal consistent among supporters of all parties

Sat, Dec 9, 2017
Pat Leahy, Sarah Bardon

A large majority of voters favours changing the Constitution to provide for greater access to abortion, the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll finds.

Asked about the prospect of the referendum on the Eighth Amendment next year, 62 per cent said they would vote in favour of changing the Constitution to allow the Oireachtas to legislate for greater access to abortion, the poll finds.

Amnesty International Ireland may face a criminal investigation for refusing to return money donated by a fund backed by the philanthropist George Soros.

The human rights organisation has been told to pay back €137,000 from Open Society Foundations, to ensure that Ireland’s abortion laws comply with human rights, by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo). Amnesty has been campaigning for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

‘Vital’ that abortion not be a crime, says Zappone
Minister’s vexed remarks come as committee reviewing amendment set to make proposals

Dec 7, 2017
Kitty Holland, Sarah Bardon

Abortion should be legal, safe and freely available to anyone who needs it, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said.

In her strongest comments to date, Ms Zappone said the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution must be removed and should not be replaced with other constitutional wording.

In a speech delivered at Dublin City University on Thursday evening, the Minister said decriminalisation of abortion was “vital”, while the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act needed to be replaced with a law “under which abortion is safe, legal and available to all who need it”.